Illuminated sign



DefZS, 1937. C. 1 WAMSER 2,103,738

ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Oct. 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

-L l l Dec. 28, 1937. c. J. wAMsER` A, 2,103,738

. ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed oct. 2', 195e 2 sheets-s116912' www1,

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT i OFFICE y 2,103,738 Y i ILLUivnNA'rnnsIGN Charles J. Wamser, Milwaukee, Wis. I Application October ,2, 1936, Serial No. 103,650

1 Claim. (el. fio- 130),v

'Ihis invention vpertains to illuminated signs, andmore particularly to what are .termed in the trade as skeleton window signs, which utilize an illuminated gas tube, such as neon, and so. forth.

, l5 Heretofore, signs o-f the foregoing` character have included frames for supporting gas tubes,

but the electrodes, connections, and live parts,

, of the sign have been exposed, detracting from the appearance of the sign,and, more impor- 10 tant, presenting a potential opportunity of serious injury to Vthose coming in contact with the sign, such as Window cleaners', and'so on.

The present invention has primarily for its object tovprovide a skeleton sign utilizing a gas l tube supported within a frame of Vtubular construction, Which serves to house' or encase the electrodes and live parts of the sign.

Incidental to theV foregoing, a more specific object of the present inventionresides Yin the provision of a sectional, tubular frame for supporting the gas tube and for housing the electrodes and other live connections.

A further object of my invention is to form a tubular frame of insulating material.

, 2 It is also an object to'encase the sign in .Cel-

lophane, or other transparent material, to protect the tubes againstiy-specks and-accumulation of dust, soot,andfso forth.

With the abovefand-other objects in View, 3o which will appear as the descriptionl proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein Vdisclosed invention maybe made as come Within the scope of the claim. l

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated 40 one complete example of the physical embodiment of the presentinvention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings: v 45 Figure 1 is an elevation of a sign constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. 50 Figure 3 is a similar View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken on the line 55 5-5 of Figure 1.

'V8--8 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on theline 6-6 of Figure 5. I

Y Figure '7 is a detail section taken on the line Y 1--1v of vFigure 1, and

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the invention comprises a tubular frame designated generally by the letter F, and in that form illustrated is of a rectan- 10 i gular shape including `upperand lower stretches I0, and side stretches Il, the ends of the stretches being connected by tubular corner brackets l2. Secured to the stretches Il, within the Width of the frame, is a pair of horizontal supporting bars i3, to which are attached in any conventional manner the illuminating gas tubes I4, formed in conventional manner to provide characters or fanciful designs, vand comprising the usual character strokes terminating in bent backs, or connecting portions l5, at the rear of the strokes.

As indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, and also shown more in detail in Figures 5 and 6, the ends of the tubes I4 which carry the electrodes enter the frame and are housed by the same, as well as all connections between the electrodes and hightension cables.

Heretofore, in skeleton signs of the present type, it has been customary to merely fasten the illuminating tubes to a fiat frame, with the electrodes andv connections exposed, and, as stated in theobjects of the invention, this structure is found highly objectionable', due to the potential danger tothose coming in contact with the exposed connections, and, also, because of the 'un- 35 attractive appearance of the sign. Furthermore, the frames ordinarily employed were formed from relatively thin material, and due to the depth required in the bending of the tubes,\the

" greater -portions` of the tubes were exposed above V40 the face of the frame, subjecting the same to breakage in handling and shipping. Y

To overcome the foregoing objections, the present invention hasA been designed to provide an attractive frame, which both houses all live connections and forms an exceedingly rigid support for the tubes, and because of the thickness or depth of the tubular structure, it protects the tube to the extent that it is unnecessary for any portion of it to project beyond the front or rear faces of the frame, although in some instances this may be required, particularly Where the characters or designs must extend beyond the area of the frame. v

Considering now the details of construction the rear of the frame, thus.V allowing ample space embodied in that form of the invention illustrated, both the stretches I8 and II are formed from front and rear channels I'I and I8, respectively, the same being connected by mortised overlapping joints I9 and 20, respectively, and, as Will be noted in Figures 4 to 6, inclusive, in the joint 20, which extends around the outer periphery of the frame, the same is mortised back to provide a groove or recess 2l, for the purpose to be hereinafter explained. i

In securing the channel members together, either fiber insulating screws 22, cement, or any other suitable means, may be employed.

As best shown in Figure 4, the inner wallof the channel I8 is provided with openings 23 for reception of the shouldered ends 24 of the horizontal supporting bars I3, to which the tubes'M are attached, as heretofore'explained, and With particular reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that the supporting bars are positioned Well to for the strokes and bentbacks of the tube.

As best shown in Figures and 6,`the ends of the tubes, and their electrodes,` are inserted through one of the 4channel members, andthe necessary connections made prior to fastening the channels together and connecting the same to the corner brackets I2. To permit insertion of the tubes the channel I'I is provided in one edge vvith` a slot I9'. It Will be noted,rin referring to Figures 2, 3, '7, and 8, that corner bracketsV are hollow and shouldered to receive the ends of the tubular stretches I0 and I I. As explained in connection with the attaching of the channels, connection can be made between the stretches and angle brackets by cement, insulating screws, or other fastening means.

From the foregoing, it Will be noted that a tubular frame of exceedingly neat appearance has been fabricatedand While the same has been illustrated as being rectangular, and having angle corner brackets, it will beobvious that the same may be of any desired shape, such as round, triangular, Vor hexagonal, Without departing from the structure and principle thus farY described.

Considering now the mechanism illustratedjfor attachment of the highftensioncables '28, and with particular reference to Figure` 2, it will be noted that the bracket I2 Vis provided With a recess 25 for reception of a knurled metallic nut 26, that in turn receives a threaded pointed plug 21, the end of which enters a restricted "opening in the nut 26. The end of the cable vis then stripped of its cover to expose the wire 28 that is projected through the restricted opening in the knurled nut 26, and spread` by the pointed y 1 plug 2'I to provide a secure and perfect connection with the cable. The plug 21 may be provided with any type of connector, such as the ..P ahn stock clip 29, to which a line from electrodes is attached.

Tightly fitted over the nut 26 is an insulating sleeve 30, which may also be secured to the cable by an insulating set screw 3I. Obviously, the purpose of the insulating sleeve 30 is to prevent contact with the metallic nut 26. 5

The sign may be supported by the high tension cables 28, or, if desired, rods or Wires 3| may be attached to the brackets I2, or to any other portion of the frame.

Aspreviously explained, in some instances it lo is proposed to encase the entire signin Cellophane, or other inexpensive transparent sheets v`of material, and this may be accomplished in one simple manner by placing sheets over thevfront and rear faces of the frame, overlap- 15 ping their ends in the recess 2|, and securing 'the' same by an ornamental strip 32 of any Ydesired material.

v bands32, with the exception of slight interruption at the points where the high tension cables enter l the frame.

In the preferred form of the invention, it is proposed to construct the channels and corner f brackets of insulating material, preferably a composition whichcanfbe cast or moulded. However;v it is also contemplated that a metallic tubular frame may be employed by providing the interior of the same with suitable'insulation to avoid Y for assembling, although it is believed that this structure develops the best results,V from the standpoint of manufacture, utility, and appearance. ""gf.

From the foregoing it will be apparent ithat ai@ highly novel type of sign has been provided, which l adds little to the `cost ofl conventional skeleton ing, a tubular frame consisting of stretches split longitudinally to provide access to the interior of the frame, means for securing the sections,- together, brackets connecting the 'ends of said stretches, a support carried by said frame, and a gas tube attached to said support and having v Y f f 6o CHARLES J, WAMSER. 

